What component provides power to a hydraulic system by pumping oil from a reservoir into the supply lines?

• A. Pump
• B. Valve
• C. Reservoir
• D. Motor

Answer: (A)

In a hydraulic system, the device that creates flow by moving oil from the reservoir into the supply lines is the pump. It draws fluid from the reservoir and pushes it into the system, generating both flow and pressure that power actuators and tools down the line. The reservoir's role is simply to store the oil and provide it to the pump as needed. The valve directs and modulates the flow once it’s in the system, but it doesn’t supply power by itself. The motor can power the pump, handing it the mechanical energy to move the fluid, but the act of pumping oil into the supply lines is done by the pump itself.